Paragraphs |
Part / Section / Chapter / Paragraph / Article |
|
APOSTOLIC LETTER |
|
APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION |
1-25 |
PROLOGUE |
1-3 |
I. The Life of Man – To Know and Love God |
4-10 |
II. Handing on the Faith: Catechesis |
11-12 |
III. The Aim and Intended Readership of This Catechism |
13-17 |
IV. Structure of This Catechism |
18-22 |
V. Practical Directions for Using This Catechism |
23-25 |
VI. Necessary Adaptations |
26-1065 |
PART ONE – THE PROFESSION OF FAITH |
26-184 |
SECTION ONE: “I BELIEVE” – “WE BELIEVE” |
27-49 |
CHAPTER ONE: MAN’S CAPACITY FOR GOD |
27-30 |
I. The Desire for God |
31-35 |
II. Ways of Coming to Know God |
36-38 |
III. The Knowledge of God According to the Church |
39-43 |
IV. How Can We Speak about God? |
44-49 |
IN BRIEF |
50-141 |
CHAPTER TWO: GOD COMES TO MEET MAN |
51-73 |
ARTICLE 1: THE REVELATION OF GOD |
51-53 |
I. God Reveals His “Plan of Loving Goodness” |
54-64 |
II. The Stages of Revelation |
65-67 |
III. Christ Jesus – “Mediator and Fullness of All Revelation” |
68-73 |
IN BRIEF |
74-100 |
ARTICLE 2: THE TRANSMISSION OF DIVINE REVELATION |
75-79 |
I. Apostolic Tradition |
80-83 |
II. The Relationship between Tradition and Sacred Scripture |
84-95 |
III. The Interpretation of the Heritage of Faith |
96-100 |
IN BRIEF |
101-141 |
ARTICLE 3: SACRED SCRIPTURE |
101-104 |
I. Christ – The unique Word of Sacred Scripture |
105-108 |
II. Inspiration and Truth of Sacred Scripture |
109-119 |
III. The Holy Spirit, Interpreter of Scripture |
120-130 |
IV. The Canon of Scripture |
131-133 |
V. Sacred Scripture in the Life of the Church |
134-141 |
IN BRIEF |
142-184 |
CHAPTER THREE: MAN’S RESPONSE TO GOD |
144-165 |
ARTICLE 1: I BELIEVE |
144-149 |
I. The Obedience of Faith |
150-152 |
II. “I Know Whom I Have Believed” |
153-165 |
III. The Characteristics of Faith |
166-184 |
ARTICLE 2: WE BELIEVE |
168-169 |
I. “Lord, Look Upon the Faith of Your Church” |
170-171 |
II. The Language of Faith |
172-175 |
III. Only One Faith |
176-184 |
IN BRIEF |
|
The Credo Chart |
185-1065 |
SECTION TWO: THE PROFESSION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH |
185-197 |
The Creeds |
198-421 |
CHAPTER ONE: I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER |
199-421 |
ARTICLE 1: “I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH” |
199-231 |
Paragraph 1. I Believe in God |
200-202 |
I. “I Believe in One God” |
203-213 |
II. God Reveals His Name |
214-221 |
III. God, “He Who Is,” Is Truth and Love |
222-227 |
IV. The Implications of Faith in One God |
228-231 |
IN BRIEF |
232-267 |
Paragraph 2. The Father |
232-237 |
I. “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” |
238-248 |
II. The Revelation of God as Trinity |
249-256 |
III. The Holy Trinity in the Teaching of the Faith |
257-260 |
IV. The Divine Works and the Trinitarian Missions |
261-267 |
IN BRIEF |
268-278 |
Paragraph 3. The Almighty |
275-278 |
IN BRIEF |
279-324 |
Paragraph 4. The Creator |
282-289 |
I. Catechesis on Creation |
290-292 |
II. Creation – Work of the Holy Trinity |
293-294 |
III. “The World Was Created for the Glory of God” |
295-301 |
IV. The Mystery of Creation |
302-314 |
V. God Carries Out His Plan: Divine Providence |
315-324 |
IN BRIEF |
325-355 |
Paragraph 5. Heaven and Earth |
328-336 |
I. The Angels |
337-349 |
II. The Visible World |
350-354 |
IN BRIEF |
355-384 |
Paragraph 6. Man |
356-361 |
I. “In the Image of God” |
362-368 |
II. “Body and Soul but Truly One” |
369-373 |
III. “Male and Female He Created Them” |
374-379 |
IV. Man in Paradise |
380-384 |
IN BRIEF |
385-421 |
Paragraph 7. The Fall |
386-390 |
I. Where Sin Abounded, Grace Abounded All the More |
391-395 |
II. The Fall of the Angels |
396-409 |
III. Original Sin |
410-412 |
IV. “You Did Not Abandon Him to the Power of Death” |
413-421 |
IN BRIEF |
422-682 |
CHAPTER TWO: I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY SON OF GOD |
430-455 |
ARTICLE 2: “AND IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD” |
430-435 |
I. Jesus |
436-440 |
II. Christ |
441-445 |
III. The Only Son of God |
446-451 |
IV. Lord |
452-455 |
IN BRIEF |
456-570 |
ARTICLE 3: “HE WAS CONCEIVED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND WAS BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY” |
456-483 |
Paragraph 1. The Son of God Became Man |
456-460 |
I. Why Did the Word Become Flesh? |
461-463 |
II. The Incarnation |
464-469 |
III. True God and True Man |
470-478 |
IV. How Is the Son of God Man? |
479-483 |
IN BRIEF |
484-512 |
Paragraph 2. “Conceived by the Power of the Holy Spirit and Born of the Virgin Mary” |
484-486 |
I. Conceived by the Power of the Holy Spirit. . . |
487-507 |
II. . . .Born of the Virgin Mary |
508-511 |
IN BRIEF |
512-570 |
Paragraph 3. “The Mysteries of Christ’s Life” |
514-521 |
I. Christ’s Whole Life Is Mystery |
522-534 |
II. The Mysteries of Jesus’ Infancy and Hidden Life |
535-560 |
III. The Mysteries of Jesus’ Public Life |
561-570 |
IN BRIEF |
571-630 |
ARTICLE 4: “JESUS CHRIST SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED, AND WAS BURIED” |
574-594 |
Paragraph 1. Jesus and Israel |
577-582 |
I. Jesus and the Law |
583-586 |
II. Jesus and the Temple |
587-591 |
III. Jesus and Israel’s Faith in the One God and Savior |
592-594 |
IN BRIEF |
595-630 |
Paragraph 2. Jesus Died Crucified |
595-598 |
I. The Trial of Jesus |
599-605 |
II. Christ’s Redemptive Death in God’s Plan of Salvation |
606-618 |
III. Christ Offered Himself to his Father for Our Sins |
619-623 |
IN BRIEF |
624-628 |
Paragraph 3. Jesus Christ Was Buried |
629-630 |
IN BRIEF |
631-658 |
ARTICLE 5: “HE DESCENDED INTO HELL ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN” |
632-635 |
Paragraph 1. Christ Descended into Hell |
636-637 |
IN BRIEF |
638-658 |
Paragraph 2. On the Third Day He Rose from the Dead |
639-647 |
I. The Historical and Transcendent Event |
648-650 |
II. The Resurrection – A Work of the Holy Trinity |
651-655 |
III. The Meaning and Saving Significance of the Resurrection |
656-658 |
IN BRIEF |
659-667 |
ARTICLE 6: “HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER” |
665-667 |
IN BRIEF |
668-682 |
ARTICLE 7: “FROM THENCE HE WILL COME AGAIN TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD” |
668-677 |
I. He Will Come Again in Glory |
678-679 |
II. To Judge the Living and the Dead |
680-686 |
IN BRIEF |
683-1065 |
CHAPTER THREE: I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT |
687-747 |
ARTICLE 8: “I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT” |
689-690 |
I. The Joint Mission of the Son and the Spirit |
691-701 |
II. The Names, Titles, and Symbols of the Holy Spirit |
702-716 |
III. God’s Spirit and Word in the Time of the Promises |
717-730 |
IV. The Spirit of Christ in the Fullness of Time |
731-741 |
V. The Spirit and the Church in the Last Days |
742-747 |
IN BRIEF |
748-975 |
ARTICLE 9: “I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH” |
751-780 |
Paragraph 1. The Church in God’s Plan |
751-757 |
I. Names and Images of the Church |
758-769 |
II. The Church’s Origin, Foundation, and Mission |
770-776 |
III. The Mystery of the Church |
777-780 |
IN BRIEF |
781-810 |
Paragraph 2. The Church – People of God, Body of Christ, Temple of the Holy Spirit |
781-786 |
I. The Church – People of God |
787-796 |
II. The Church – Body of Christ |
797-801 |
III. The Church is the Temple of the Holy Spirit |
802-810 |
IN BRIEF |
811-870 |
Paragraph 3. The Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic |
813-822 |
I. The Church Is One |
823-829 |
II. The Church Is Holy |
830-856 |
III. The Church Is Catholic |
857-865 |
IV. The Church Is Apostolic |
866-870 |
IN BRIEF |
871-945 |
Paragraph 4. Christ’s Faithful – Hierarchy, Laity, Consecrated Life |
874-896 |
I. The Hierarchical Constitution of the Church |
897-913 |
II. The Lay Faithful |
914-933 |
III. The Consecrated Life |
934-945 |
IN BRIEF |
946-962 |
Paragraph 5. The Communion of Saints |
949-953 |
I. Communion in Spiritual Goods |
954-959 |
II. The Communion of the Church of Heaven and Earth |
960-962 |
IN BRIEF |
963-975 |
Paragraph 6. Mary – Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church |
964-970 |
I. Mary’s Motherhood with Regard to the Church |
971 |
II. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin |
972 |
III. Mary – Eschatological Icon of the Church |
973-975 |
IN BRIEF |
976-987 |
ARTICLE 10: “I BELIEVE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS” |
977-980 |
I. One Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins |
981-983 |
II. The Power of the Keys |
984-987 |
IN BRIEF |
988-1019 |
ARTICLE 11: “I BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY” |
992-1004 |
I. Christ’s Resurrection and Ours |
1005-1014 |
II. Dying in Jesus Christ |
1015-1019 |
IN BRIEF |
1020-1065 |
ARTICLE 12: “I BELIEVE IN LIFE EVERLASTING” |
1021-1022 |
I. The Particular Judgement |
1023-1029 |
II. Heaven |
1030-1032 |
III. The Final Purification, or Purgatory |
1033-1037 |
IV. Hell |
1038-1041 |
V. The Last Judgement |
1042-1050 |
VI. The Hope of the New Heaven and the New Earth |
1051-1060 |
IN BRIEF |
1061-1065 |
“Amen” |
1066-1690 |
PART TWO – THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY |
1076-1209 |
SECTION ONE: THE SACRAMENTAL ECONOMY |
1077-1134 |
CHAPTER ONE: THE PASCHAL MYSTERY IN THE AGE OF THE CHURCH |
1077-1112 |
ARTICLE 1: THE LITURGY – WORK OF THE HOLY TRINITY |
1077-1083 |
I. The Father – Source and Goal of the Liturgy |
1084-1090 |
II. Christ’s Work in the Liturgy |
1091-1109 |
III. The Holy Spirit and the Church in the Liturgy |
1110-1112 |
IN BRIEF |
1113-1134 |
ARTICLE 2: THE PASCHAL MYSTERY IN THE CHURCH’S SACRAMENTS |
1114-1116 |
I. The Sacraments of Christ |
1117-1121 |
II. The Sacraments of the Church |
1122-1126 |
III. The Sacraments of Faith |
1127-1129 |
IV. The Sacraments of Salvation |
1130 |
V. The Sacraments of Eternal Life |
1131-1134 |
IN BRIEF |
1135-1209 |
CHAPTER TWO: THE SACRAMENTAL CELEBRATION |
1136-1199 |
ARTICLE 1: CELEBRATING THE CHURCH’S LITURGY |
1136-1144 |
I. Who Celebrates? |
1145-1162 |
II. How Is the Liturgy Celebrated? |
1163-1178 |
III. When Is the Liturgy Celebrated? |
1179-1186 |
IV. Where Is the Liturgy Celebrated? |
1187-1199 |
IN BRIEF |
1200-1209 |
ARTICLE 2: LITURGICAL DIVERSITY AND THE UNITY OF THE MYSTERY |
1207-1209 |
IN BRIEF |
1210-1690 |
SECTION TWO: THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH |
1212-1419 |
CHAPTER ONE: THE SACRAMENTS OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION |
1213-1284 |
ARTICLE 1: THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM |
1214-1216 |
I. What Is the Sacrament Called? |
1217-1228 |
II. Baptism in the Economy of Salvation |
1229-1245 |
III. How Is the Sacrament of Baptism Celebrated? |
1246-1255 |
IV. Who Can Receive Baptism? |
1256 |
V. Who Can Baptize? |
1257-1261 |
VI. The Necessity of Baptism? |
1262-1274 |
VII. The Grace of Baptism |
1275-1284 |
IN BRIEF |
1285-1321 |
ARTICLE 2: THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION |
1286-1292 |
I. Confirmation in the Economy of Salvation |
1293-1301 |
II. The Signs and the Rite of Confirmation |
1302-1305 |
III. The Effects of Confirmation |
1306-1311 |
IV. Who Can Receive This Sacrament? |
1312-1314 |
V. The Minister of Confirmation |
1315-1321 |
IN BRIEF |
1322-1419 |
ARTICLE 3: THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST |
1324-1327 |
I. The Eucharist – Source and Summit of the Ecclesial Life |
1328-1332 |
II. What Is This Sacrament Called? |
1333-1344 |
III. The Eucharist in the Economy of Salvation |
1345-1355 |
IV. The Liturgical Celebration of the Eucharist |
1356-1381 |
V. The Sacramental Sacrifice: Thanksgiving, Memorial, Presence |
1382-1401 |
VI. The Pascal Banquet |
1402-1405 |
VII. The Eucharist – “Pledge of the Glory to Come” |
1406-1419 |
IN BRIEF |
1420-1532 |
CHAPTER TWO: THE SACRAMENTS OF HEALING |
1422-1498 |
ARTICLE 4: THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION |
1423-1424 |
I. What Is This Sacrament Called? |
1425-1426 |
II. Why a Sacrament of Reconciliation after Baptism? |
1427-1429 |
III. The Conversion of the Baptized |
1430-1433 |
IV. Interior Penance |
1424-1439 |
V. The Many Forms of Penance in Christian Life |
1440-1449 |
VI. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation |
1450-1460 |
VII. The Acts of the Penitent |
1461-1467 |
VIII. The Minister of This Sacrament |
1468-1470 |
IX. The Effects of This Sacrament |
1471-1479 |
X. Indulgences |
1480-1484 |
XI. The Celebration of the Sacrament of Penance |
1485-1498 |
IN BRIEF |
1499-1532 |
ARTICLE 5: THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK |
1500-1513 |
I. It’s Foundation in the Economy of Salvation |
1514-1516 |
II. Who Receives and Who Administers This Sacrament? |
1517-1519 |
III. How Is This Sacrament Celebrated? |
1520-1523 |
IV. The Effects of the Celebration of This Sacrament |
1524-1525 |
V. Viaticum, the Last Sacrament of the Christian |
1526-1532 |
IN BRIEF |
1533-1666 |
CHAPTER THREE: THE SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION |
1536-1600 |
ARTICLE 6: THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS |
1537-1538 |
I. Why Is This Sacrament Called “Orders”? |
1539-1553 |
II. The Sacramant of Holy Orders in the Economy of Salvation |
1554-1571 |
III. The Three Degrees of the Sacrament of Holy Orders |
1572-1574 |
IV. The Celebration of This Sacrament |
1575-1576 |
V. Who Can Confer This Sacrament? |
1577-1580 |
VI. Who Can Receive This Sacrament? |
1581-1589 |
VII. The Effects of the Sacrament of Holy Orders |
1590-1600 |
IN BRIEF |
1601-1666 |
ARTICLE 7: THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY |
1602-1620 |
I. Marriage in God’s Plan |
1621-1624 |
II. The Celebration of Marriage |
1625-1637 |
III. Matrimonial Consent |
1638-1642 |
IV. The Effects of the Sacrament of Matrimony |
1643-1654 |
V. The Goods and Requirements of Conjugal Love |
1655-1658 |
VI. The Domestic Church |
1659-1666 |
IN BRIEF |
1667-1690 |
CHAPTER FOUR: OTHER LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS |
1667-1679 |
ARTICLE 1: SACRAMENTALS |
1677-1679 |
IN BRIEF |
1680-1690 |
ARTICLE 2: CHRISTIAN FUNERALS |
1681-1683 |
I. The Christian’s Last Passover |
1684-1690 |
II. The Celebration of Funerals |
1691-2557 |
PART THREE – LIFE IN CHRIST |
1699-2051 |
SECTION ONE: MAN’S VOCATION: LIFE IN THE SPIRIT |
1700-1876 |
CHAPTER ONE: THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON |
1701-1715 |
ARTICLE 1: MAN: THE IMAGE OF GOD |
1710-1715 |
IN BRIEF |
1716-1729 |
ARTICLE 2: OUR VOCATION TO BEATITUDE |
1716-1717 |
I. The Beatitudes |
1718-1719 |
II. The Desire for Happiness |
1720-1724 |
III. Christian Beatitude |
1725-1729 |
IN BRIEF |
1730-1748 |
ARTICLE 3: MAN’S FREEDOM |
1731-1738 |
I. Freedom and Responsibility |
1739-1742 |
II. Human Freedom in the Economy of Salvation |
1743-1748 |
IN BRIEF |
1749-1761 |
ARTICLE 4: THE MORALITY OF HUMAN ACTS |
1750-1754 |
I. The Sources of Morality |
1755-1756 |
II. Good Acts and Evil Acts |
1757-1761 |
IN BRIEF |
1762-1775 |
ARTICLE 5: THE MORALITY OF THE PASSIONS |
1763-1766 |
I. Passions |
1767-1770 |
II. Passions and Moral Life |
1771-1775 |
IN BRIEF |
1776-1802 |
ARTICLE 6: MORAL CONSCIENCE |
1777-1782 |
I. The Judgement of Conscience |
1783-1785 |
II. The Formation of Conscience |
1786-1789 |
III. To Choose in Accord with Conscience |
1790-1794 |
IV. Erroneous Judgement |
1795-1802 |
IN BRIEF |
1803-1845 |
ARTICLE 7: THE VIRTUES |
1804-1811 |
I. The Human Virtues |
1812-1829 |
II. The Theological Virtues |
1830-1832 |
III. The Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit |
1833-1845 |
IN BRIEF |
1846-1876 |
ARTICLE 8: SIN |
1846-1848 |
I. Mercy and Sin |
1849-1851 |
II. The Definition of Sin |
1852-1853 |
III. The Different Kinds of Sins |
1854-1864 |
IV. The Gravity of Sin: Mortal and Venial Sin |
1865-1869 |
V. The Proliferation of Sin |
1870-1876 |
IN BRIEF |
1877-1948 |
CHAPTER TWO: THE HUMAN COMMUNITY |
1878-1896 |
ARTICLE 1: THE PERSON AND SOCIETY |
1878-1885 |
I. The Communal Character of the Human Vocation |
1886-1889 |
II. Conversion and Society |
1890-1896 |
IN BRIEF |
1897-1927 |
ARTICLE 2: PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL LIFE |
1897-1904 |
I. Authority |
1905-1912 |
II. The Common Good |
1913-1917 |
III. Responsibility and Participation |
1918-1927 |
IN BRIEF |
1928-1948 |
ARTICLE 3: SOCIAL JUSTICE |
1929-1933 |
I. Respect for the Human Person |
1934-1938 |
II. Equality and Differences among Men |
1939-1942 |
III. Human Solidarity |
1943-1948 |
IN BRIEF |
1949-2051 |
CHAPTER THREE: GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE |
1950-1986 |
ARTICLE 1: THE MORAL LAW |
1954-1960 |
I. The Natural Moral Law |
1961-1964 |
II. The Old Law |
1965-1974 |
III. The New Law or the Law of the Gospel |
1975-1986 |
IN BRIEF |
1987-2029 |
ARTICLE 2: GRACE AND JUSTIFICATION |
1987-1995 |
I. Justification |
1996-2005 |
II. Grace |
2006-2011 |
III. Merit |
2012-2016 |
IV. Christian Holiness |
2017-2029 |
IN BRIEF |
2030-2051 |
ARTICLE 3: THE CHURCH, MOTHER AND TEACHER |
2032-2040 |
I. Moral Life and the Magisterium of the Church |
2041-2043 |
II. The Precepts of the Church |
2044-2046 |
III. Moral Life and Missionary Witness |
2047-2051 |
IN BRIEF |
|
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS CHART |
2052-2557 |
SECTION TWO: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS |
2075-2082 |
IN BRIEF |
2083-2195 |
CHAPTER ONE: “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOU GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND” |
2084-2141 |
ARTICLE 1: THE FIRST COMMANDMENT |
2084-2094 |
I. “You Shall Worship the Lord Your God and Him Only Shall You Serve” |
2095-2109 |
II. “Him Only Shall You Serve” |
2110-2128 |
III. “You Shall Have No Other Gods before Me” |
2129-2132 |
IV. “You Shall Not Make for Yourself a Graven Image” |
2133-2141 |
IN BRIEF |
2142-2167 |
ARTICLE 2: THE SECOND COMMANDMENT |
2142-2149 |
I. The Name of the Lord Is Holy |
2150-2155 |
II. Taking the Name of the Lord in Vain |
2156-2159 |
III. The Christian Name |
2160-2167 |
IN BRIEF |
2168-2195 |
ARTICLE 3: THE THIRD COMMANDMENT |
2168-2173 |
I. The Sabbath Day |
2174-2188 |
II. The Lord’s Day |
2189-2195 |
IN BRIEF |
2196-2257 |
CHAPTER TWO: “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF” |
2197-2257 |
ARTICLE 4: THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT |
2201-2206 |
I. The Family in God’s Plan |
2207-2213 |
II. The Family and Society |
2214-2231 |
III. The Duties of Family and the Kingdom |
2232-2233 |
IV. The Family and the Kingdom |
2234-2246 |
V. The Authorities in Civil Society |
2247-2257 |
IN BRIEF |
2258-2330 |
ARTICLE 5: THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT |
2259-2283 |
I. Respect for Human Life |
2284-2301 |
II. Respect for the Dignity of Persons |
2302-2317 |
III. Safeguarding Peace |
2318-2330 |
IN BRIEF |
2331-2400 |
ARTICLE 6: THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT |
2331-2336 |
I. “Male and Female He Created Them . . .” |
2337-2359 |
II. The Vocation to Chastity |
2360-2379 |
III. The Love of Husband and Wife |
2380-2391 |
IV. Offenses against the Dignity of Marriage |
2392-2400 |
IN BRIEF |
2401-2463 |
ARTICLE 7: THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT |
2402-2406 |
I. The Universal Destination and the Private Ownership of Goods |
2407-2418 |
II. Respect for Persons and Their Goods |
2419-2425 |
III. The Social Doctrine of the Church |
2426-2436 |
IV. Economic Activity and Social Justice |
2437-2442 |
V. Justice and Solidarity among Nations |
2443-2449 |
VI. Love for the Poor |
2450-2463 |
IN BRIEF |
2464-2513 |
ARTICLE 8: THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT |
2465-2470 |
I. Living in the Truth |
2471-2474 |
II. To Bear Witness to the Truth |
2475-2487 |
III. Offenses against Truth |
2488-2492 |
IV. Respect for the Truth |
2493-2499 |
V. The Use of the Social Communications Media |
2500-2503 |
VI. Truth, Beauty, and Sacred Art |
2504-2513 |
IN BRIEF |
2514-2533 |
ARTICLE 9: THE NINTH COMMANDMENT |
2517-2519 |
I. Purification of the Heart |
2520-2527 |
II. The Battle for Purity |
2528-2533 |
IN BRIEF |
2534-2557 |
ARTICLE 10: THE TENTH COMMANDMENT |
2535-2540 |
I. The Disorder of Covetous Desires |
2541-2543 |
II. The Desires of the Spirit |
2544-2547 |
III. Poverty of Heart |
2548-2550 |
IV. “I Want to See God” |
2551-2557 |
IN BRIEF |
2558-2865 |
PART FOUR – CHRISTIAN PRAYER |
2558-2758 |
SECTION ONE: PRAYER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE |
2559-2565 |
WHAT IS PRAYER? |
2566-2649 |
CHAPTER ONE: THE REVELATION OF PRAYER |
2566-2567 |
THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO PRAYER |
2568-2597 |
ARTICLE 1: IN THE OLD TESTAMENT |
2590-2597 |
IN BRIEF |
2598-2622 |
ARTICLE 2: IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME |
2620-2622 |
IN BRIEF |
2623-2649 |
ARTICLE 3: IN THE AGE OF THE CHURCH |
2626-2628 |
I. Blessing and Adoration |
2629-2633 |
II. Prayer of Petition |
2634-2636 |
III. Prayer of Intercession |
2637-2638 |
IV. Prayer of Thanksgiving |
2639-2643 |
V. Prayer of Praise |
2644-2649 |
IN BRIEF |
2650-2696 |
CHAPTER TWO: THE TRADITION OF PRAYER |
2652-2662 |
ARTICLE 1: AT THE WELLSPRINGS OF PRAYER |
2661-2662 |
IN BRIEF |
2663-2682 |
ARTICLE 2: THE WAY OF PRAYER |
2680-2682 |
IN BRIEF |
2683-2696 |
ARTICLE 3: GUIDES FOR PRAYER |
2692-2696 |
IN BRIEF |
2697-2758 |
CHAPTER THREE: THE LIFE OF PRAYER |
2700-2724 |
ARTICLE 1: EXPRESSIONS OF PRAYER |
2700-2704 |
I. Vocal Prayer |
2705-2708 |
II. Meditation |
2709-2719 |
III. Contemplative Prayer |
2720-2724 |
IN BRIEF |
2725-2745 |
ARTICLE 2: THE BATTLE OF PRAYER |
2726-2728 |
I. Objections to Prayer |
2729-2733 |
II. Humble Vigilance of Heart |
2734-2741 |
III. Filial Trust |
2742-2745 |
IV. Persevering in Love |
2746-2758 |
ARTICLE 3: THE PRAYER OF THE HOUR OF JESUS |
2752-2758 |
IN BRIEF |
2759-2865 |
SECTION TWO: THE LORD’S PRAYER: “OUR FATHER!” |
2761-2776 |
ARTICLE 1: “THE SUMMARY OF THE WHOLE GOSPEL” |
2762-2764 |
I. At the Center of the Scriptures |
2765-2766 |
II. “The Lord’s Prayer” |
2767-2772 |
III. The Prayer of the Church |
2773-2776 |
IN BRIEF |
2777-2802 |
ARTICLE 2: “OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN” |
2777-2778 |
I. “We Dare to Say” |
2779-2785 |
II. “Father!” |
2786-2793 |
III. “Our” Father |
2794-2796 |
IV. “Who Art in Heaven” |
2797-2802 |
IN BRIEF |
2803-2854 |
ARTICLE 3: “THE SEVEN PETITIONS” |
2807-2815 |
I. “Hallowed Be Thy Name” |
2816-2821 |
II. “Thy Kingdom Come” |
2822-2827 |
III. “The Will Be Done on Earth as It Is in Heaven” |
2828-2837 |
IV. “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread” |
2838-2845 |
V. “And Forgive us Our Trespasses, as We Forgive Those Who Trespass against Us” |
2846-2849 |
VI. “And Lead Us Not into Temptation” |
2850-2854 |
VII. “But Deliver Us From Evil” |
2855-2865 |
ARTICLE 4: THE FINAL DOXOLOGY |
2857-2865 |
IN BRIEF |
|
ABBREVIATIONS |
“Teacher, what must I do . . .?”
2052 “Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?” To the young man who asked this question, Jesus answers first by invoking the necessity to recognize God as the “One there is who is good,” as the supreme Good and the source of all good. Then Jesus tells him: “If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” And he cites for his questioner the precepts that concern love of neighbor: “You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.” Finally Jesus sums up these commandments positively: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”1
2053 To this first reply Jesus adds a second: “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”2 This reply does not do away with the first: following Jesus Christ involves keeping the Commandments. The Law has not been abolished,3 but rather man is invited to rediscover it in the person of his Master who is its perfect fulfillment. In the three synoptic Gospels, Jesus’ call to the rich young man to follow him, in the obedience of a disciple and in the observance of the Commandments, is joined to the call to poverty and chastity.4 The evangelical counsels are inseparable from the Commandments.
2054 Jesus acknowledged the Ten Commandments, but he also showed the power of the Spirit at work in their letter. He preached a “righteousness [which] exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees”5 as well as that of the Gentiles.6 He unfolded all the demands of the Commandments. “You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill.’ . . . But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment.”7
2055 When someone asks him, “Which commandment in the Law is the greatest?”8 Jesus replies: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets.”9 The Decalogue must be interpreted in light of this twofold yet single commandment of love, the fullness of the Law:
“YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND”
2083 Jesus summed up man’s duties toward God in this saying: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”1 This immediately echoes the solemn call: “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD.”2
God has loved us first. The love of the One God is recalled in the first of the “ten words.” The commandments then make explicit the response of love that man is called to give to his God.
* Charity
2093 Faith in God’s love encompasses the call and the obligation to respond with sincere love to divine charity. The first commandment enjoins us to love God above everything and all creatures for him and because of him.12
2094 One can sin against God’s love in various ways:
– indifference neglects or refuses to reflect on divine charity; it fails to consider its prevenient goodness and denies its power.
– ingratitude fails or refuses to acknowledge divine charity and to return him love for love.
– lukewarmness is hesitation or negligence in responding to divine love; it can imply refusal to give oneself over to the prompting of charity.
– acedia or spiritual sloth goes so far as to refuse the joy that comes from God and to be repelled by divine goodness.
– hatred of God comes from pride. It is contrary to love of God, whose goodness it denies, and whom it presumes to curse as the one who forbids sins and inflicts punishments.
II. THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION
The priesthood of the Old Covenant
1539 The chosen people was constituted by God as “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”6 But within the people of Israel, God chose one of the twelve tribes, that of Levi, and set it apart for liturgical service; God himself is its inheritance.7 A special rite consecrated the beginnings of the priesthood of the Old Covenant. The priests are “appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.”8
1540 Instituted to proclaim the Word of God and to restore communion with God by sacrifices and prayer,9 this priesthood nevertheless remains powerless to bring about salvation, needing to repeat its sacrifices ceaselessly and being unable to achieve a definitive sanctification, which only the sacrifice of Christ would accomplish.10
1541 The liturgy of the Church, however, sees in the priesthood of Aaron and the service of the Levites, as in the institution of the seventy elders,11 a prefiguring of the ordained ministry of the New Covenant. Thus in the Latin Rite the Church prays in the consecratory preface of the ordination of bishops:
by your gracious word
you have established the plan of your Church.From the beginning,
you chose the descendants of Abraham to be your holy nation.
You established rulers and priests
and did not leave your sanctuary without ministers to serve you. . . .12
1542 At the ordination of priests, the Church prays:
when you had appointed high priests to rule your people,
you chose other men next to them in rank and dignity
to be with them and to help them in their task. . . .you extended the spirit of Moses to seventy wise men. . . .
You shared among the sons of Aaron
the fullness of their father’s power.13
1543 In the consecratory prayer for ordination of deacons, the Church confesses:
You make the Church, Christ’s body,
grow to its full stature as a new and greater temple.
You enrich it with every kind of grace
and perfect it with a diversity of members
to serve the whole body in a wonderful pattern of unity.You established a threefold ministry of worship and service,
for the glory of your name.
As ministers of your tabernacle you chose the sons of Levi
and gave them your blessing as their everlasting inheritance.14
The one priesthood of Christ
1544 Everything that the priesthood of the Old Covenant prefigured finds its fulfillment in Christ Jesus, the “one mediator between God and men.”15 The Christian tradition considers Melchizedek, “priest of God Most High,” as a prefiguration of the priesthood of Christ, the unique “high priest after the order of Melchizedek”;16 “holy, blameless, unstained,”17 “by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified,”18 that is, by the unique sacrifice of the cross.
1545 The redemptive sacrifice of Christ is unique, accomplished once for all; yet it is made present in the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Church. The same is true of the one priesthood of Christ; it is made present through the ministerial priesthood without diminishing the uniqueness of Christ’s priesthood: “Only Christ is the true priest, the others being only his ministers.”19
Two participations in the one priesthood of Christ
1546 Christ, high priest and unique mediator, has made of the Church “a kingdom, priests for his God and Father.”20 The whole community of believers is, as such, priestly. The faithful exercise their baptismal priesthood through their participation, each according to his own vocation, in Christ’s mission as priest, prophet, and king. Through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation the faithful are “consecrated to be . . . a holy priesthood.”21
1547 The ministerial or hierarchical priesthood of bishops and priests, and the common priesthood of all the faithful participate, “each in its own proper way, in the one priesthood of Christ.” While being “ordered one to another,” they differ essentially.22 In what sense? While the common priesthood of the faithful is exercised by the unfolding of baptismal grace –a life of faith, hope, and charity, a life according to the Spirit–, the ministerial priesthood is at the service of the common priesthood. It is directed at the unfolding of the baptismal grace of all Christians. The ministerial priesthood is a means by which Christ unceasingly builds up and leads his Church. For this reason it is transmitted by its own sacrament, the sacrament of Holy Orders.